Difference between these 3 RAM sticks from Mushkin

[Comp625]

http://www.mushkin.com/cgi-bin/Mushkin.filereader?3c782638092179f02744c0a801020610+EN/catalogs/5378

Mushkin is selling 3 different types of RAM. The only difference that sets apart the first BASIC DDR ram is that it's rated 2.5-3-3. The DDR Special is rated at 2-3-3...that's the only difference that I can see between the BASIC and SPECIAL. The High Perf is similar to the DDR Special except it has a Heat Spreader thing.

So what exactly is the difference? What is the ratings? How come a .5 variance in the ratings can make such a difference in price? What's the real world difference when comparing the 2.5-3-3 vs the 2-3-3? Is it worth it to spend an extra $30 or so on the 2-3-3?

 

[Jhhnn]

It depends on what you want to do, and what kind of braggin' rights you want. For normal apps, the difference might not be noticeable at all at standard clock speed. If you're overclocking, though, the difference gets bigger. If raising the fsb demands backing off on the memory timings very far, then some of the benefit evaporates. Memory can become the overall limiting factor, too, standard grades won't necessarily work at all at higher fsb. The likelihood of obtaining higher fsb speeds is greater with the high priced stuff, and there's more room to back off on the timing without killing performance.

Does that make sense?